Review - Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth

Nancy Clancy: Super Sleuth (Nancy Clancy #1)
by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Date: 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 124
Format: e-book
Source: library

Nancy Clancy is growing up and ready for a whole new adventure... in her chapter book debut!

Nancy and her best friend, Bree, have everything they need to solve a mystery, from their totally professional trench coats to their top-secret code.

But when crime strikes in their classroom, will these super sleuths be able to crack the case?

Find out in the glamorous start to an all-new chapter book series featuring everyone’s favorite fancy girl!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Since I've been enjoying the Fancy Nancy picture books, I thought I'd give one of the chapter books a try. This is my first foray into the Nancy Clancy series, and I have to say, I'm not that impressed. They may be aimed at a slightly older audience than the picture books, but I actually found this book more difficult to enjoy than the books featuring six-year-old Nancy.

The illustrations, while still done by Robin Preiss Glasser, are all in black and white, so some of the magic is lost there. I also don't like the fact that these chapter books are written in a third-person point of view, unlike the picture books (which are in the first person); it distances the reader from the main character a little too much. Also, I found the "mystery" way too simple, and the culprit was way too obvious. I've often been surprised by the events in the Fancy Nancy picture books, because they're often not what one would expect. In this book, however, things are foreshadowed or hinted at too much, and it leaves little room for the reader to come up with imaginative alternate scenarios.

Part of the charm of Nancy is her over-the-top fanciness. That always played a role in the picture books. Here, though, that isn't the focus. Aside from the established background of these characters, there's really nothing to make them stand out. They might as well be original characters (and kind of boring ones, at that).

I've sated my curiosity for now. I doubt I'll be reading any more of these chapter books. While they might be okay for young readers, I wonder if the plots will even be too young for kids who are reading chapter books by themselves.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.88 out of 5